Incandescent igniter for gas-engines.



N0. 668,839. Patented Feb. 26, IQOL C. J. MACUMBER. lNCANDESCENT IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

(Application filed May 4. 1900.)

' (No amen.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. MACOMllER, OF ST. MARY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUGLAIZE MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

INCANDESCENT IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES;

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 668,839, dated February 26, 1901. Application filed May 4, 1900. Serial No. 15,524. (No model.)

adjusted so as to fire the charge of gas at the proper time.

With this object in view my invention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts of an incandescent igniter for gas-engines, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters indicate corresponding parts in each of the views in which they occur, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved incandescent igniter for gasengines. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the explosion-chamber of an engine provided with my improved igniter. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the explosionchamber of the engine, showing the manner of adjusting the position of the igniter so as to govern the explosion of the charge. Fig. 4: is a longitudinal sectional view of the igniter. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. 6is an end View of a different form of the igniter, and Fig. 7 is a broken sectional view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates a cylinder of an explosive-engine of ordinary construction, provided with an exhaust-passage B.

1 indicates my iguiter, which is made of such a length that it may be secured to the piston-head 2, which is movable in said cyl inder A. The igniter may be secured to said head in any suitable manner--as,for instance,

by means of an arm 3, which is pivotally secured at the center of the head by means of a bolt 4.

5o The rear end of the igniter is preferably screw-threaded, as shown at 5, for securing it to the arm or "to the head of the piston, and the outer portion is provided with radiating ribs 6. It is preferably made hollow and provided with one or more openings 7 at its rear end for the purpose of permitting the entrance of the heated gas thereinto. If desired, the radiating ribs may be dispensed with. The tube may be hollow throughout its entire length, as shown at 1' in Figs. 6 and 7.

In using my incandescent igniter for gas-engines it is secured to the arm and so locked relatively to the exhaust-port as to be heated to the proper temperature by the heat from the escaping products of combustion, thereby regulating the explosion of gas in conformity with theload carried by the engine-that is, if the igniter be located nearest to the exhaustport it will be in the direct line of fire or most intense heat in the cylinder, and thereby be rendered so hot as to quickly fire the charge; but if it be moved to either side it will not be heated so quickly, and by adjusting it in different positions it can be made to fire the gas at any time within the cylinder of the engine during compression. In starting the engine the ordinary outside tube or battery can be used for firing the charge; but after the engine has run from one to three minutes my igniter will be heated to such an extent as to automatically ignite the gas, when the other methods of ignition can be shut off.

When constructed in this manner, it is evident that my igniter can be manufactured very cheaply and that the heat generated by the preceding explosions can be utilized for firing the succeeding charges without detracting in any manner whatever from the efliciency of the engine or incurring the expense of the usual electrical or heated-tube igniter. go It can be readily applied to the piston-head of the ordinary gas-engine without the necessity of complicated or costly parts, the only requirement being that it be adjustably secured near the exhaust-port of the engine. 5

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- p 1. In an explosive-gas engine, the combination, with the cylinder provided with an exhaust-port, of a piston therein, an arm pivotally secured to the center of the piston, the

free end of which is provided with a hollow igniter which is adapted to be moved laterally relatively to the exhaust-port and lie in the path of the escaping products of combustion and be heated thereby, said arm resting 'against the face of the piston and being adapted to be held against the same in its adjusted position by the pivotal attachment, substantially as described.

2. In an explosive-gas engine, the combination, with the cylinder provided with an exhaust-port, the outlet being located adjacent to the head .of the, piston when at the limit of its outward stroke, of a piston within the cylinder, and a hollow igniter adjustahly x secured to the head of the piston and adapted to be moved laterally relatively to the outlet whereby it may be moved into or out of the direct path of the escaping products of combustion, substantially as described. C. J. MACOMBER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES I-I KELLY, FRANK KONLEY. 

